Toothbrush with dentifrice holder



March 11, 1969 v. z. HUDSON TOOTHBRUSH WITH DENTIFR'ICE HOLDER Filed June 16, 1966 INVENTOR, MEG/NM Z Hymn/v I ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,432,245 TOOTHBRUSH WITH DENTIFRICE HOLDER Virginia Z. Hudson, 598 East Ave., Chico, Calif. 95926 Filed June 16, 1966, Ser. No. 558,044 U.S. Cl. 401-132 1 Claim lnt. Cl. A46 11/00 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A toothbrush having bristles projecting laterally from a face formed thereon adjacent an end thereof, an elongated slot opening into said face and having its sides bounded by said bristles, a cap extending across an inner end portion of said slot and cooperating therewith to form a dentifrice receiving compartment, said cap having an end extending into said slot and weakened to rupture upon the application of pressure on said cap to cause said dentrifrice to be extruded therefrom into the outer end Oif said slot and, subsequently, onto said bristles.

This invention relates to a toothbrush provided with means for holding a charge of dentifrice material and means for extruding the dentifrice material onto the bristles of a toothbrush and more particularly relates to a combined toothbrush and dentifrice dispenser of this character which may be disposed after a single use.

It is 'well known that a substantial cause of tooth decay lies in the failure of individuals to brush their teeth after every meal. Brushing after every meal is normally inconvenient for most people because of the lack of a toothbrush and dentifrice, such as after the Workday lunch period, on trips by automobile, train or plane where luggage is not readily available, and after a school lunch period or the like.

It is generally conceded that there is no substitute for timely brushing in order to prevent tooth decay. The loss to the general public from tooth decay is clearly great.

'In brief terms, the instant invention is comprised of a toothbrush forming a dentifrice transmitting groove extending from adjacent the bristles in a direction toward and including at least a portion of the handle with a charge of dentifrice residing in the groove and covered by a pressure-responsive closure adapted for moving between a first position retaining the dentifrice in the groove and a second position forcing at least a portion of the dentifrice through the groove into the bristle area. Preferably the charge of dentifrice is limited to an amount sufli'cient for a single brushing such that the individual may throw the toothbrush away shortly thereafter, thereby making the tooth cleaning assembly of the instant invention adapted [for use during travel. It will be readily apparent that the disposable tooth cleaning device of the instant invention may be provided as a courtesy by the transportation facility.

It is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a disposable toothbrush provided with a dentifrice dispenser.

Another object of the instant invention is to provide a disposable toothbrush characterized by an elongate groove extending from the bristle area through at least a portion of the handle, the groove carrying at least a part of the dentifrice charge and means completing the encapsulation of the dentifrice charge and movable to force a sub stantial amount of the dentifrice material through the groove and into the bristle area.

A further object of the instant invention is to provide a disposable toothbrush which is loaded with a charge of dentifrice material sufficient for a single tooth brushing operation so that the toothbrush may be disposed of after initial use.

Other objects and advantages of the instant invention reside in the combinations of elements, arrangements of parts, and features of construction and operation, all as will be more fully pointed out hereinafter and disclosed in the accompanying drawing wherein there is shown a preferred embodiment of the instant inventive concept.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a toothbrush made in accordance with the principles of the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the toothbrush of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the toothbrush of FIGURES l and 2 taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the toothbrush of FIGURES 1 to 3 inclusive, ta-ken substantially along line 44 of FIGURE 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of another form of toothbrush made in accordance with the principles of the instant invention;

FIGURE 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the toothbrush of FIGURE 5 taken along the longitudinal axis thereof; and

FIGURE 7 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the toothbrush of FIGURES 5 and 6 taken substantially along line 7-7 of FIGURE 5 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, wherein like reference characters designate like elements throughout the several views thereof, a toothbrush made in accord ance with the principles of the instant invention is shown generally at 10 having a handle designated generally at 12 made of any suitable inexpensive material, such as plastic or the like. Handle 12 includes a front face 14, a rear face 16 and a pair of side faces 18, 20. A plurality of bristles 22 extend perpendicularly away from front face 14 in a pair of aligned rows shown best in FIGURE 2. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, the general outline of bristles 22 is roughly concave downwardly and is provided with a series of upwardly facing Vs therein.

A slot or groove 24 is formed in handle 12 and communicates with front face 14 throughout substantially its entire length. As shown by a comparison of FIGURES 2 and 3, groove 24 diverges away from the bristle area both in plan, as shown in FIGURE 2, and in cross-section as shown in FIGURE 3. Accordingly, the terminal end of groove 24 is rather large and contains a portion of a charge of dentifrice material 26 which is partially encapsulated by a deformable cap 28.

The cap 28 is sealed along its peripheral edge 30 to front surface 14 of handle 12 and extends down into groove 24 thereby sealing charge 26 in the terminal end of groove 24. Cap 28 is weakened as at 32, as by serrating that portion of cap 28 extending into groove 24 such that the depression of cap 28 as shown by the arrow P will form an aperture in cap 28 thereby allowing the dentifrice or toothpaste to be extruded through cap 28 and guided along groove 24 into the bristle area at the end of handle 12.

It will be readily apparent that an individual may utilize toothbrush 10 of the instant invention merely by depressing the cap 28 with the thumb as shown by arrow P to dispense the charge of dentifrice material between bristles 24. After the tooth brushing operation is complete, the individual may merely throw toothbrush 10 away if so desired.

Referring now to FIGURES 5 to 7 inclusive, another form of toothbrush of the instant invention is shown generally at 34 comprised of a handle illustrated generally 3 at 36 having a semicircular front face 38, a flat rear face 40, and a pair of side faces 42, 44. As shown in FIG- URES and 6, a plurality of bristles 46 extend outwardly from a flat face 48 which is substantially coplanar to the center of the remainder of handle 36 as shown in FIGURE 7.

Handle 36 includes a slot shown generally at 50 extending from adjacent the bristle area to the terminal end of the handle. Slot 50 is comprised of two portions, a first passageway 52, illustrated as of a circular crosssectional configuration, extending a substantial portion of the length of handle 36 toward the bristle area in the second passageway 54 extending from the blind end of passageway 52 to the bristle area. A charge of dentifrice material 56 is positioned in passageway 52 adjacent the junction of passageway 54 with a plunger 58 being slidably mounted in passageway 52.

The discharge area of second passageway 54 may be closed if desired, however, it has been found unnecessary in the event that toothbrush 34 is to be enclosed in a sealed plastic bag. Accordingly, when the individual desires to brush the teeth with toothbrush 34, the plastic sack will be opened and the toothbrush removed. The individual will depress plunger 58 with the thumb thereby extruding toothpaste through second aperture 54 into the bristle area. It will be noted that second passageway 54 is similarly tapered both in plan and in cross-section, approximating a frustum of a cone, acting to deliver toothpaste throughout a substantial portion of the bristle area.

It is now seen that there is herein provided an improved toothbrush with dentifrice holder which accomplishes all of the objects and advantages of the instant invention and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

Since many embodiments may be made of the instant inventive concept, and since many modifications may be made in the embodiments hereinbefore shown and described, it is to be understood that the foregoing is to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A disposable toothbrush comprising an elongated handle element;

a plurality of bristles having one of their respective ends fixedly secured to said side of said handle element and their respective other ends projecting laterally therefrom at one end thereof and substantially perpendicular with respect thereto;

said handle element having an elongated slot formed therein and extending longitudinally thereof and opening into said side at said one end thereof, said slot having its opposed longitudinally extending sides bounded by said bristles throughout substantially the entire length of its outer end portion, said slot also tapering from the innermost end thereof to its outermost end;

an elongated flexible cap extending over the inner end portion of said slot and cooperating therewith to form a dentifrice receiving compartment, and said cap having a continuous peripheral marginal edge portion sealed against the longitudinally extending marginal edges of said handle and defining said slot, said cap having an end thereof sealed in said slot in confronting relation relative to the outer end portion thereof, and said end of said cap being scored to weaken the same for easy rupture upon the application of pressure on said cap to force said dentifrice to flow through said ruptured end of said cap into the outer end portion of said slot for subsequent transference to said bristles.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 10/ 1951 Germany.

ROBERT PESHOCK, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 401-152, 184 

